Water-gas apparatus



(No Model.) 3 SheetsASheet 1.

J. M. RUSBY. WATER GAS APPARATUS.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheet-Sheet 2.

J. M. RUSBY. WATER GAS APPARATUS.

N0. 532,586. A Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

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J. M}. RUSBY.

WATER GAS APPARATUS. A No. 532,586. Patented Jan. 15, 1895.

WITNESSES: V INVENTO/i THE Ncmms PETERS co, wuovoumu, WASNINGTON, n c.

NITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. RUSBY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED GASIMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-GAS APPARATUS} SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent, No.532,586, dated January 1 5, 1895.

I I Application filed August 28, 1894. Serial No; 521,489- (No model.)

ToaZZ whom it mag concern..- v

Be it known that I, JOHN M. RUSBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and Stateof 5 NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-GasApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my present invention is to effect an economy or saving andto provide for [O the utilization of so much of the waste heat of awater gas generating plant as is necessary under various existingconditions for heating the airblast or blasts to any required orpredetermined temperature and further to pro- I 5 vide for theutilization of the-balance or remaining portion of the waste heat forgenerating steam; and to thisend my invention consists of theimprovements'hereinafter described and claimed.

The .nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will bemore fully understood from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawingsforming part hereof and illustrating oneembodiment of my invention, and in which Figure 1, is an elevationalview illustrating portions of a well-known type of water gas generatingapparatus commonly designated the Lowe apparatus, and Fig. 2, is a per-0 spective view of boilers and an air-heater for use in connection withthe portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and these two figurestaken together illustrate a plant embodying features of my invention.Fig. 3, is a sectional 3 5 view drawn to an enlarged scale andillustrating a flap valve shown in Fig. 1, at the junction of the stackandwaste gas conduit. Fig.

4, is a vertical sectional view illustrating the by-pass shown in Fig.2, and adapted to afford 0 means whereby any required portion .of thewaste gas may be directed to an air blast heater and whereby the balanceor remaining portion of the waste gas may be directed to a boiler orboilers, and Fig. 5, is a horizontal 5 sectional view illustrating amodified form of bypass wherein the waste-gas is supplied to theair-heater without mingling with waste gas that has traversed the boilerand that is escaping therefrom into the boiler off-take.

In the drawings 1, designates portions of one type of water gasgenerating apparatus of the Lowe class provided with any suitableairblast connections 2, steam connections 3, and

main 4*, for conveying away the so-called water gas that is generatedand intended for 5 5 preservation and use. During the operation ofheating up such an apparatus preparatory 'to the manufacture ofso-called water gas, fuel is consumed in the generator usually under theinfl uence of a forced draft, and the highly 6o of the apparatus, forexample, from the carburetor, and my present invention is applicable toany type of such apparatus, the point of the apparatus from which thewaste gas is led off being immaterial, the apparatus shown beingselected merely for purposes of illustration'.

The waste gas given off or discharged fromv the apparatus shown in Fig.1, while it is being heated up for the manufacture of water gas,,isutilized advantageously and economi- 7 cally according to my invention,because the air-blast may be heated to any required tem-' perature by aportion of it and because the balance of it is utilized for generatingsteam which is supplied to the apparatus, more es- 8o pecially duringthe generation of useful gas or watergas as it is commonly designated.

During the operation of heating up the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,'thewaste gas is in whole or in part, usually the former, prevented fromescaping at the stack 4, and is directed into a waste gas conduit 5, bymeans' of any suitable valve or valves for controlling the opening orpassage through the stack 4, and conduit 5. For purposes ofillustration, Figs. 1 and 3, a flap valve 6, is availed for this purposeand this flap valve may be caused to completely interrupt the passage ofwaste gas through the stack 4, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, orthrough the waste gas conduit 5 5 as shown by dotted lines in saidfigure. Moreover, .this flap valve may be placed in a positionintermediate of those above men- .tioned in order to direct so much ofthe waste gas to the conduit 5, as is necessary or de- I00 sirable forheating air and water and the re mainder thereof to the stack 4, topermit of its escape therethrough. The conduit 5, leads to a by-pass7-8, whereby so much of the hot waste gas may be passed through the part7, and air-heater 11, as is necessary or requisite under existingconditions for heating the blast to the temperature required under theexisting conditions for attaining the most economical and beneficialresults in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. In this connection it may beremarked that the quantity or proportion of the heat of waste gas thatshould be imparted to the air-blast varies according to the quality andkind of fuel employed in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and according toother conditions that will be readily understood by gas-makers and thatdetermine for the time being the most economical temperature at whichthe blast may be employed.

To provide for increasing or diminishing the quantity of the sensibleheat of the waste gas utilized for heating the air-blast or in otherwords to provide for increasing or diminishing at will the temperatureof the airblast, use is made of a valve or valves. As shown two valves 9and 10, are employed for this purpose, but a flap valve like that shownin Fig. 3, and hinged as at m, Fig. 2, might be employed in lieuthereof. For the sake of explanation it will be assumed that the valves9 and 10, are partly open and in order to increase the temperature ofthe air-blast, the valve 9, is opened and the valve 10, is closed eitherwholly or in part according to the increase of temperature required,whereby an additional quantity of waste gas is directed from the conduit5, to the heater 11, with the result that the air-blast is heated to acorrespondingly higher temperature. Conversely the opening of the valve10, and closing of the valve 9, causes a diminished quantity of wastegas to be delivered to the air heater 11, whereby the temperature of theair-blast is correspondingly decreased.

In all cases, the portion of the waste gas which is not employed forheating the air-. blast in the heater 11, is directed through the part8, to the boiler 12, through which it circulates, for example, in thedirection indicated by arrows at, in Fig. 2, in order to give upitssensible heat for the purpose of generating steam which in turn issupplied by means of the connections 3, to the apparatus illustrated inFig. 1.

13 and 14, represent additional boilers of the same tubular type asboiler 12, and which may or may not be employed. Within the boilers 13and 14, when present, there is maintained a combustion of suitable fueland this combustion is controlled by air-blasts supplied from theair-blast pipe 2, through branch pipes 15, that may be provided withautomatic damper regulators that control the passage of air through themand that are governed automatically to maintain the required pressure ofsteam. The heated products of combustion from the boilers 13 and 14,may, by closing the valves 16 and 17, and opening valves 18 and 19, becaused to traverse the conduit 20, and air'heater 11, in the directionindicated by the arrows b, in order to impart their sensible heat to theair-blast. In this connection it may be remarked that the airheater mayresemble in construction a tubular boiler and that the products ofcombustion from the boilers 18 and 14, may be caused to traverse one setof tubes in the heater 11, while the waste gases issuing from the part7, are caused to traverse another set of tubes in the heater 11,although the employment of one or two sets of tubes in the heater 11, isa matter of construction. By closing the valves 18 and 19, and openingthe valves 16 and 17, the products of combustionfrom the boilers l3 and14, maybe permitted to escape through the oif-takcs 21 and 22, withoutentering the air heater 11. The waste gases, after traversing the boiler12, and after having been deprived of at least a portion of theirsensible heat for the generation of steam, escape throughvthe pipe 23,and as shown in Fig. 2, mingled with the waste gas traversing the part7, and the resultant mixture passes the valve 24, which is open for thispurpose, and escapes through the air-heater 11, as is indicated by thearrows c. From the airheater 11, the comparatively cool gases escape, inthe present instance, through a pipe 25, into the off-take 22, as shownby the arrows d. However, if the temperature of the gases traversing thepipe 25, will Warrant it, this pipe may be replaced by an additional airheater. By closing the valve 24:, and opening the valve 26, Fig. 4, noneof the waste gas is passed through the heater 11, although either allora part of it according to the position of the valves 9 and 10, passesthrough the boiler. In such case, the air-heater 11, may be heatedwholly by means of the products of combustion from the boilers13 and14:.

Although horizontal tubular boilers are illustrated in the drawings,still my invention is obviously applicable to boilers of a vertical typeand in such case, the air-heater may also be disposed vertically andmade to standupon its end on the boiler.

It will be observed that as shown in Fig. 2, and above described, thewaste gas passing through the pipe 23, after having been deprived of atleast a part of its sensible heat in the boiler 12, unites andcommingles with hot waste gas traversing the part 7, on its way to theair-heater 11. In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a separate connection 27,and valve 28, whereby this commingling of hot and partially cooled wastegas before entering the air heater, is obviated.

Referring to Fig. 5, when the valve 28, is open and the valve 9, closed,the hot waste gas traverses the part 27, and enters the airheater 11,and in this construction the waste gas which issues from the boiler 12,through the pipe 23, may be directed to the off-take 22, by closing thevalve 24, so that under these circumstances, the waste gas which hasbeen cooled by traversing the boiler 12, does not enter the air-heater11, although it may be caused so to do by closing the valve 26, Fig. 1,and opening the valve 24, Fig. 5. Air is forced into air-conduit 2, bymeans of a blower or other suitable devicenot shown, and by closing thevalves'29 and 30, and opening the valve 31, this air would be caused topass directly through the conduit 2. However, this is not done, but thevalve 31, is closed and the valves 29 and 30, are opened so that theincoming air is caused to traverse the pipes 32 and 33, and spacebetween the tubes of the air-heater 11, in the direction indicated bythearrows e, and in a direction opposed to the direction of travel ofthe hot-gas through the tubes of the air-heater. From the air-heater,hot blasts of air are supplied through the conduit 2,to the apparatusillustrated in Fig.1, in any well-k'nown manner.

32, is a door provided at the base of the stack 4, and adapted to beopened periodically by the gas-maker in order that he may examinethecondition of the out-going or waste gas. Moreover the door 32 may beopened in order to admit air to the Waste gas so that the latter may beburned before entering the boiler 12. If there is not sufficient draftwhen the door 32, is open, the natural draft of the boiler off-take 22,may be aided by a small steam jet injector 34.

Various modifications in the manner of constructing and working theabove described apparatus have been referred to. However, a descriptionwill now be given of its usual mode of operation.

While the apparatus is being heated up preparatory to the generation ofwater gas, the conduit 4 is closed, the flap valve 6, is turned into theposition indicated by full lines in Fig.

3, for directing waste gas from the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, throughthe conduit 5, and in this connection it may be remarked that when watergas is being generated, the stack 4, is open and the flap valve 6, is inthe position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, for closing theconduit 5, so that any water gas that may leak from the superheater,will pass through the stack 4, into the air. Moreover the valve 6, whenin this position prevents the ingress of cold air by way of the stack 4,to the boiler 12. From the conduit 5, so much of the Waste gas as isnecessary for heating the blast to the temperature necessary ordesirable for producin g the best results in the apparatus shown in Fig.1, is passed through the by-pass 7, directly to the heater 11, where itssensible heat is given up to the current or blast of air traversing thepipes 32, 33, and 2. The remaining portion of the waste gas is led bythe pipe 8, into and through the boiler 12, in which it imparts at leasta part of its sensible heat for the generation of steam, which, togetherwith the steam generated by the boilers 13 and 14, is supplied to theapparatus shown in Fig. 1. Moreover the gas-maker may raise or lower thetemperature of the air-blast at will and in the proper manner forsecuring the most economical and beneficial results under the existingconditions such as quality of fuel, condition of fire, and the like, bythe simple operation of changing the apportionment'of waste gasesbetween the air-heater and boiler through the intervention of theby-pass7-8, and its complemental valve or valves. The hot gaseous products fromone or all the boilers including the partially cooled waste gas from theboiler 12, may be passed through the airheaterll, as has been alreadydescribed or, if preferred these last mentioned gaseous products fromone or all of the boilers maybe permitted to escape through the offtakes21 and 22, without traversing tlie'air-heaterll. In such case, theair-heater is heated wholly by means of hot Waste gastraversing thepart7.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art 'to which myinventionrelates that modifications may be made in details without departing fromthe spirit thereof. Hence I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction and.

arrangement of parts hereinabove set forth said water gas apparatusamong its air and water heaters, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a water gas apparatus alternately cooled by theproduction of water gas and re-heated giving rise to waste gas, air

and water heaters co-operating with and appertaining to said water gasapparatus, and a by-pass and valve connections for apportioning wastegas from the water gas apparatus among its airand water heaters,substantially as described. -3. In combination, a water gas apparatus,an air heater, water heaters whereof some are fired, connections forconveying hot products of combustion from the last mentioned waterheaters to the air heater,-and a by-pass for distributing heated gasfrom the water gas apparatus among the air heater and remaining waterheaters, substantially as described. 4. In combination, a water gasapparatus,

an air heater, a water heater, a by-pass for 1 by-pass for apportioningwaste gas from the furnace among the separate air and water heaters,substantially as described.

6. The combination in a water gas apparatus of, a fixing chamberprovided with a water gas oE-take and with adischarge stack, a conduitand by-pass for-conveying waste gas from said stack and apportioning thesame among the water and air heaters that appertain to and co-operatewith the water gas apparatus, and valve connections for openingcommunication with the stack and closing communication with the conduitduring the production of water gas whereby leakage of the latter isprevented from entering the heaters and escapes into the stack,substantially as described.

7. In combination, a water gas apparatus, a

conduit and by-pass for conveying waste gas from the stack thereofandapportioning the same among water and air heaters, and a door in thestack, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a water gas apparatus, a conduit and by-pass forconveying waste gas from the stack thereof and apportioning the sameamong water and air heaters, a door in the stack, and an injector orsteam jet exhauster discharging steam or air through the air heater,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses.

J. M. RUSBY. Witnesses:

WEST BISSELL, HENRY MARTIN.

